Monday
I had a pretty good day with my kids. For reading class we were reading a story that had ‘chickens running frantically about’ and they didn’t know what the word ‘frantically’ was. So I demonstrated by strutting around like a frantic chicken in class. They got quite a kick out of that. Today was the first day we left the dog while we were at school and we were all worried about him during school. Chad, Jacki’s boyfriend who’s here visiting, went up earlier than the end of school to check on him. He did alright for being by himself, but we were glad to see each other. I ran Celaque and did really well time wise, which felt great. I had dinner by myself since LB and Sarah in town, did some school stuff, called Hilary, and played with puppy to finish my night.
Tuesday
Today was a long day; I was frustrated with my kids today in the afternoon. It’s just normal problems: talking while I’m talking or others are in multiple forms; not raising their hands to speak or asking permission to stand up. I just feel like a broken record player sometimes saying the same things over and over again. I don’t know what to do to have them change the way they listen. After my long day I took a nap. Sarah and I made chicken salad for dinner, which was delicious and something different. Our puppy got a flea bath so he’s all clean now!
Wednesday
Wednesdays are chapel; I had thought Mrs Lopez was going to do the devo, but when I got there it was just Tad and LB with their 6th grade and Nivelacion, so I did one on the spot. It went alright, I just hate being unprepared for things. I had a pretty good day; it’s getting consistently hot during the day, which I think affects the kids’ attention in class. I really had to go to the bathroom at the beginning of class and since I always tell my kids to go at lunch and recess, I decided to let them time me to see if I could do it in 3 minutes; I give them that much time when I let the whole class go. So I started running across the plaza and they all yelled to walk. I went to the bathroom so fast, skipped washing my hands (I had antibacterial stuff in my class) and started walking out when I hear my whole class yelling: “5, 4, 3, 2,1!” and I had missed the mark. I gave them a few extra minutes for recess in exchange. We went to town after school. I was feeling tired and hot, so I skipped running to do some laundry and started to pack for vacation. Almost there!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Saturday and Sunday, March 20 & 21
Saturday
I GOT A PUPPY!!!! I woke up Saturday morning to a surprise! Sarah had gotten it the night before. We had been talking about getting one and we had been looking and finally found a healthy one! He’s so cute and his name is Fitzgerald, or Fitz for short. He’s about 6 weeks old, brown with a little black, and floppy ears. This is my first puppy; I never had a dog growing up so I have begun to realize how much work it is to take care of it. It’s kinda like a baby, but not quite as much work. I have to get up in the night to let it out to go to the bathroom, feed it, play with it, wash it, all the things that come with dog ownership. He’s our pride and joy though! Besides finding out about the dog, I needed to get some shopping done before Semana Santa and Tad had to get some things too so we made it a trip to town. I bought new dresses for the beach and a sweet pair of aviator sunglasses and Tad found what he wanted as well. Its great to know you can usually find what you want if you look long and hard enough.
We were waiting for our mototaxi near Guancascos and saw met Jen, Renske and Laura. They were in Gracias for the weekend with some other Project Trust (their British organization) people and invited us to go to the private hot springs! I was stoked because I’ve only been to the public ones because they’re closer and better known. But the private ones are obviously privately owned, less busy, and cleaner. They’re farther outside of town and for that reason we haven’t had the means to go there in a moto. Tad and I didn’t have our suits, but we worked with what we had; besides that’s how half the Hondurans do it, go bathing in their clothes in the hot springs. The girls’ director drove all of us to the springs and we relaxed there for the rest of the evening. It was great to just be able to be in nice warm water and be able to hang out with friends. I finished the night by watching the Pianist, which was quite a heavy movie, but very good.
Sunday
I slept in today, had breakfast and then went to river to lay out since it was my last weekend to do that before Spring Break. I took care of some spring break stuff, hung out with my housemates, and played with puppy. Tonight was also my first night of doggy duty. I have to admit I got crappy sleep because I went to bed kinda late, woke up at 1:30am, 4:00am, and finally at 6am. But a puppy’s gotta do his business; it’s my responsibility and the others girls’ as well. We take turns doing doggy duty nights so we can get a few good night’s sleep.
I GOT A PUPPY!!!! I woke up Saturday morning to a surprise! Sarah had gotten it the night before. We had been talking about getting one and we had been looking and finally found a healthy one! He’s so cute and his name is Fitzgerald, or Fitz for short. He’s about 6 weeks old, brown with a little black, and floppy ears. This is my first puppy; I never had a dog growing up so I have begun to realize how much work it is to take care of it. It’s kinda like a baby, but not quite as much work. I have to get up in the night to let it out to go to the bathroom, feed it, play with it, wash it, all the things that come with dog ownership. He’s our pride and joy though! Besides finding out about the dog, I needed to get some shopping done before Semana Santa and Tad had to get some things too so we made it a trip to town. I bought new dresses for the beach and a sweet pair of aviator sunglasses and Tad found what he wanted as well. Its great to know you can usually find what you want if you look long and hard enough.
We were waiting for our mototaxi near Guancascos and saw met Jen, Renske and Laura. They were in Gracias for the weekend with some other Project Trust (their British organization) people and invited us to go to the private hot springs! I was stoked because I’ve only been to the public ones because they’re closer and better known. But the private ones are obviously privately owned, less busy, and cleaner. They’re farther outside of town and for that reason we haven’t had the means to go there in a moto. Tad and I didn’t have our suits, but we worked with what we had; besides that’s how half the Hondurans do it, go bathing in their clothes in the hot springs. The girls’ director drove all of us to the springs and we relaxed there for the rest of the evening. It was great to just be able to be in nice warm water and be able to hang out with friends. I finished the night by watching the Pianist, which was quite a heavy movie, but very good.
Sunday
I slept in today, had breakfast and then went to river to lay out since it was my last weekend to do that before Spring Break. I took care of some spring break stuff, hung out with my housemates, and played with puppy. Tonight was also my first night of doggy duty. I have to admit I got crappy sleep because I went to bed kinda late, woke up at 1:30am, 4:00am, and finally at 6am. But a puppy’s gotta do his business; it’s my responsibility and the others girls’ as well. We take turns doing doggy duty nights so we can get a few good night’s sleep.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Friday, March 19
Friday
I was really excited for this Friday because it was the first day we as teachers could wear polos and jeans to school! In order to raise money for SAG, the teachers could pay 120 lemps (like $6) and be able to wear jeans and a polo through the end of April. Teaching went well today for a longer day Friday. It is also Father’s Day here in Honduras on the 19th so my kids decorated Father’s Day cards for their fathers. If they didn’t have fathers (which many of them don’t), they could do it for their grandpa, uncle, borther or even their mother. It’s really sad to hear some of the kids’ stories; like you ask them where their dad is and some don’t even know. I just relaxed at night; I ran and was really tired and went to bed early, like 10pm! I’m getting old, 10pm on a Friday night…
I was really excited for this Friday because it was the first day we as teachers could wear polos and jeans to school! In order to raise money for SAG, the teachers could pay 120 lemps (like $6) and be able to wear jeans and a polo through the end of April. Teaching went well today for a longer day Friday. It is also Father’s Day here in Honduras on the 19th so my kids decorated Father’s Day cards for their fathers. If they didn’t have fathers (which many of them don’t), they could do it for their grandpa, uncle, borther or even their mother. It’s really sad to hear some of the kids’ stories; like you ask them where their dad is and some don’t even know. I just relaxed at night; I ran and was really tired and went to bed early, like 10pm! I’m getting old, 10pm on a Friday night…
Thursday, March 18
I had to teach PE again since Mr. Bran not there. I had my kids run suicides to warm up (aren’t I horrible?), but I ran with them a few though. Then somehow some drama transpired between Claudia and Leonela. There were words exchanged and I think some history I didn’t know about and they were crying and blubbering. I tried to understand the problem but between them switching back and forth between Spanish and English and crying, it was tough. Thank goodness it was towards the end of class so I had the class line up for go back and took each of their hands in one of mine and we walked back to class. They were not allowed to talk to each other on the way there. I felt like a counselor, PE teacher and normal teacher today. Mr. Lara worked things out and straightened out some other drama in my class that had been happening outside class which I wasn’t aware of. I was tired after that; didn’t realize how much PE took out of me when I had to still teach during the day! Tutorias went pretty well for Language with comma rules, which is always helpful. I worked on progress reports at night; at least we don’t have them the Friday before break!
Wednesday, March 17- Happy St. Patrick's Day
Wednesday
I had a good day at school and we took our weekly trip to town. We got water and chimbo (gas) there and when I got back home I ran up Celaque for exercise. Afterwards LB and I were hungry so we tried to put chimbo top back in, but somehow we messed it up so it started shooting out at a high speed, spraying gas all over the house! So we dragged it outside so at least gas wasn’t all in the house. It was still shooting off at high rates of speed and I didn’t know what to do so I ran down to the neighbors to get someone to help us. I didn’t know if it was going to blow up, if we should try to save it, or what. One neighbor and Tad came up, then Sonia and Abby, then Bryan, and we asked if there was anything we could do because it was still full and they said no nothing. Therfore we had to waste a whole new container of chimbo; we just had to sit there and listen to the gas escape. Awesome…not only that but our water went out tonight, and I found a huge somewhat dangerous bug in our house after school which I had to kill. I was so pissed at the whole principle behind the chimbo incident that every time LB and I try to do something on our own or something, it ends up messing up (the sink, LB and her laundry, the chimbo). Days like these I just wish I lived in the US and had consistent electricity, running water and gas lines in my house for my stove.
I had a good day at school and we took our weekly trip to town. We got water and chimbo (gas) there and when I got back home I ran up Celaque for exercise. Afterwards LB and I were hungry so we tried to put chimbo top back in, but somehow we messed it up so it started shooting out at a high speed, spraying gas all over the house! So we dragged it outside so at least gas wasn’t all in the house. It was still shooting off at high rates of speed and I didn’t know what to do so I ran down to the neighbors to get someone to help us. I didn’t know if it was going to blow up, if we should try to save it, or what. One neighbor and Tad came up, then Sonia and Abby, then Bryan, and we asked if there was anything we could do because it was still full and they said no nothing. Therfore we had to waste a whole new container of chimbo; we just had to sit there and listen to the gas escape. Awesome…not only that but our water went out tonight, and I found a huge somewhat dangerous bug in our house after school which I had to kill. I was so pissed at the whole principle behind the chimbo incident that every time LB and I try to do something on our own or something, it ends up messing up (the sink, LB and her laundry, the chimbo). Days like these I just wish I lived in the US and had consistent electricity, running water and gas lines in my house for my stove.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Tuesday, March 16
Today as a normal day until La Union came to play a futbol game at our school in prepartation for SAG. SAG is Student Annual Gathering and all of the Abundant Life schools in Honduras go to Teguz for a weekend and compete in different things like futbol, basketball, chess, ping-pong, debate and other sorts of things. It’s a huge deal for the kids; only the middle and high school get to go. It costs quite a bit of money as well. The futbol game began at 11:40, so the hour before (science) it was almost impossible to keep my kids focused on what we were talking about. The bus came, horns were being blown, drums were pounding, and you could just feel the excitement in the air for the game. Almost the entire school watched it because they were either at lunch or we let them out of class so they could watch. It was hot, too, for the poor girls that were playing. All the kids were out there, screaming and chanting, blowing those crazy horns and banging on the drums they brought. It was crazy; I felt like I was back in high school for a second at a big rival game. La Union is one of our rivals because they’re so close to us. Jake was bragging to us and talking smack to us. It was really fun watching and participating in that, too. Unfortunately, La Union just played better than us and they ended up winning 4-1. I stayed after to finish room because Mr. Lara took tutorias, which was awesome and then headed home.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
My Clumsiness
So I'm not sure if I've always been this way, if it's gotten worse as I get older, or if being in Honduras just perpetuates it...I'm clumsy.
Let me tell you the things I have broken or spilled here.
Broken:
3-4 porcelein mugs/cups
The top of a glass cookware pot
One cereal bowl
My computer screen-it was dark, I wasn't looking and put my hand down directly on my computer screen (don't worry its fixed now!)
Things I Have Spilled/Dropped
Water-all the time. Trying to fill my bottle at school, accidently knocking over, etc, etc.
Coffee- same thing. At school walking from class to class, drinking it at home, etc.
Milk-spilled it on our grass mats and concrete floor and the table
Tea-spilled it on our grass mat and on the table
Watermelon-yes I tried to get my watermelon cold quickly so I put the bowl with the pieces in the freezer, thinking I was a genius. Oh no, when I open the door, the freezer door opens and out fall all my water melon pieces
Numerous times I have dropped silverware on the floor.
So...there you have it. Evidence of my clumsiness. Hopefully its just a phase...or not.
Let me tell you the things I have broken or spilled here.
Broken:
3-4 porcelein mugs/cups
The top of a glass cookware pot
One cereal bowl
My computer screen-it was dark, I wasn't looking and put my hand down directly on my computer screen (don't worry its fixed now!)
Things I Have Spilled/Dropped
Water-all the time. Trying to fill my bottle at school, accidently knocking over, etc, etc.
Coffee- same thing. At school walking from class to class, drinking it at home, etc.
Milk-spilled it on our grass mats and concrete floor and the table
Tea-spilled it on our grass mat and on the table
Watermelon-yes I tried to get my watermelon cold quickly so I put the bowl with the pieces in the freezer, thinking I was a genius. Oh no, when I open the door, the freezer door opens and out fall all my water melon pieces
Numerous times I have dropped silverware on the floor.
So...there you have it. Evidence of my clumsiness. Hopefully its just a phase...or not.
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